the issue with texting is that your eyes look downwards and your hands are busy. That is the problem. It's perfectly normal and fine to drive while talking so there's nothing wrong with hands free devices. The brain is always performing more than one task at once.

IRL the Mutsu suffered a catastrophic casualty while in port which caused it to sink. IIRC it was while reloading ammunition. Hyuga had an explosion in a gun turret which necessitated flooding the after magazines. It didn't put the ship out of action for too long but it apparently was a near run thing for the ship's survival.

Also IIRC the number one cause of BB sinkings throughout history and across all national boundaries was accidental explosions of either the boilers or the magazines (rather than any particular form of enemy attack).

So, is the consensus that the reason this happens is not because the devices were destroyed in the attack but were damaged, and like insurance companies do to cars, "total" them even though they have some degree of function, then when they're removed the display shows them as destroyed?

I was once rear ended by some moron at 20 mph (which can kill people) because he had to talk on his cellphone while driving. He did not even touch his brakes. The car (an Accord) was "totalled" by the insurance company and some time later a car dealer in Oklahoma called up because they were now in possession of it and couldn't find anything wrong with it, and were incredulous as to why it was "totalled". When you get down to brass tacks the insurance company screwed the owner (and driver) of the car in order to repair it to "like new" quality, sell it and pocket the profits. He was unable to buy a car anywhere near the quality of the one his insurance called "totalled" for the money they paid him.

I really brought this up for anyone who might read this who thinks you can talk on a phone or text and drive at the same time. No one can, not even Bill Clinton. You can do one or the other properly but not both at the same time. People who answer or call on a phone while driving will always give top priority to that activity, and many die as a result. Natural selection, I guess. But how is it natural selection in the case of the people they kill? I should stress that no-hands phone systems are exactly no different. The hands are not the issue. Your focus and attention is. I often refuse to even converse with my passengers when I'm driving. It's just too dangerous (and careless I might add).

How's that for veering off topic?

I still want reaction to the beginning of this post.

Veering OT, and I apologize for it; but I have to respond to my esteemed Gorn about "totaling" of cars.

I grew up in a Body Shop, so I have some knowledge.

Insurance companies sign contracts with Dismantling Yards {or whatever name they are using lately} for the yard to buy anything the insurance company "totals". This is based on a percentage of the car's value {usually was in the 30-40% range}.

When the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car minus what they get from the wrecking yard, the insurance company will total the car. When they go over this amount, they are actually "loosing" money if an insurance company can ever be said to be "loosing" money.

Enter the era of Air Bags. My father owned a Body Shop. His cost for a driver airbag replacement was $1500 in 1994. $2000 for a passenger side air bag. This is wholesale price for the unit without retail markup or labor. Add this into the cost of repairs and it makes it easy to "total" a car without having excessive damage.

The car goes to the wrecking yard and is sold as a rebuilder. Someone comes along, buys it, repairs it and sells it. This person isn't worried about labor costs as he's doing the labor.

It will have a "Salvage" title on it's paperwork and will be considered "salvaged junk". I think the pink slip in California actually read "Salvaged Junk" before the 80s. Depending on who does the repairs, it could be just as safe as any brand new vehicle {possibly safer than some} or deathtrap waiting for another accident to happen.

I have no love for insurance companies in general and auto insurance carriers in particular. But they are not making any money off "totaled" cars. The insurance company is only liable for the replacement value of the car. And this is based on what a similar car sells for in the region that the car owner lives.